Joseph Mawle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joseph Mawle
Mawle in Shell 2012
Born	(1974-03-21) 21 March 1974 (age 51) Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
Alma mater	Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1998–present

Joseph Daniel Turner Mawle (born March 21, 1974) is an English actor. He is famous for playing many different characters in TV shows and movies. You might know him as Benjen Stark in Game of Thrones, Jesus Christ in The Passion, or Adar in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. He has also appeared in films like Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and Shell.

Early Life and Challenges

Mawle was born in Oxford, England. He grew up on a farm outside Shipston-on-Stour. His family had been farmers in Warwickshire for nine generations! His mother was a teacher, and his father still farms the land.

When he was young, Joseph found out he had dyslexia. This is a learning difference that can make reading and writing a bit harder. Because of this, he went to a special boarding school from ages 13 to 16.

At 16, he decided he wanted to be an actor. However, he got an illness called labyrinthitis. This left him with about 70% hearing loss in his upper ear and a ringing in his ears called tinnitus. Despite these challenges, he convinced a local college to let him study performing arts. He also worked different jobs like a fitness instructor and dishwasher.

He performed with a theatre company called Box Clever. He even put on his own show called Solo Hamlet. Later, he won a scholarship to study acting at the famous Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.

Acting Career Highlights

Joseph Mawle finished his studies at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 2002. That same year, he appeared in TV adverts for Guinness.

Early Roles and Recognition

In 2003, he got his first big acting role. He played Troilus in a play called Troilus and Cressida. He also performed in other plays like Hamlet and Antony and Cleopatra.

A TV film called Soundproof (2006) was very important for his career. The story needed a deaf actor for the main role, and Joseph's hearing impairment helped him connect with the character. He was nominated for an award for his performance. The director of the film also won a BAFTA award.

Television and Film Success

Mawle has appeared in many British TV shows. These include Dunkirk and Persuasion. In 2008, he played Jesus in the BBC/HBO Films miniseries The Passion. He also guest-starred in an episode of Foyle's War.

He returned to the theatre in 2008 in a play called The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. He was praised for his role as Judas.

In 2009, he was in several films, including Nineteen Eighty and Heartless. He also appeared in the TV show The Street.

By 2010, Mawle was very busy. He was in Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express and the BBC drama Five Daughters. He also acted in Made in Dagenham with Sally Hawkins. In 2011, he played Gerald Crich in the TV show Women in Love.

Joining Game of Thrones and Other Projects

Also in 2011, Joseph Mawle joined the popular HBO series Game of Thrones. He played the character Benjen Stark. He appeared in the first season and returned for season six.

In 2012, he was in several movies. These included The Cold Light of Day with Bruce Willis. He also appeared in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and the British film Shell.

In 2013, Mawle played Stephen Beaumont in The Tunnel. He also took on the role of Detective Inspector Jedediah Shine in Ripper Street. He had a main role in the horror film The Hallow.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

In 2019, Joseph Mawle joined the cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power on Amazon Prime Video. He was one of the first actors to be cast in the show. He played the main bad guy, Adar. Adar was a fallen Elf who became known as the "father of the Orcs." In 2022, it was announced that another actor, Sam Hazeldine, would play Adar in the second season. Joseph Mawle confirmed on social media that he would not be returning to the role.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

• 2003: Troilus and Cressida as Troilus (Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory)
• 2004: Hamlet (the Nuffield Theatre, Southampton)
• 2005: Antony & Cleopatra (Royal Exchange, Manchester)
• 2008: The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (the Almeida Theatre)